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Spinach scare traced to one cattle ranch

By TIMES WIRES
Published March 24, 2007

FRESNO, CALIF.

The contaminated spinach that sickened hundreds of people and led to an unprecedented nationwide recall last fall was traced to a 50-acre field at a cattle ranch east of Salinas, according to a report by state and federal investigators released Friday. The findings point to one bacteria-laden crop processed at one plant. Mission Organics is the only farm implicated by the investigators, and a Natural Selection Foods packaging plant in San Juan Bautista was the only processor implicated. Three people, including a toddler, died in the outbreak, in which about 200 illnesses were reported in 26 states.

MIAMI

Judge refuses to dismiss Padilla case

A federal judge refused to dismiss terrorism support charges against Jose Padilla on Friday, rejecting defense claims that his 3 1/2 years in custody as an enemy combatant violated his constitutional right to a speedy trial. U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke agreed with prosecutors that Padilla's years in isolation at a Navy brig did not count because he had not yet been charged.

LOS ANGELES

California: Insurer dropped ill, pregnant

State regulators fined California's largest health insurance provider $1-million for violating state law, saying an investigation found that the company systematically dropped policyholders after they became sick or pregnant. Officials with the Department of Managed Health Care said they hoped the fine would prompt changes at Blue Cross of California, and they plan similar investigations into other insurance providers in the state, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

LOS ANGELES

Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband gives DNA

Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband provided a DNA sample Friday in the ongoing dispute about the paternity of Anna Nicole Smith's infant daughter, and said he wanted to raise the child if he was the father. Frederic von Anhalt said he's "almost sure" the test will prove he's the father of 6-month-old Dannielynn. He says he carried on a decadeslong affair with the former Playboy Playmate.

Diaries: Anna Nicole Smith's two diaries have been sold for more than $500,000 to a German businessman who planned to sell the information to media outlets, an auction house official said. Her 1992 diary was sold for $282,500 and her 1994 diary went for $230,000 in an eBay auction Thursday, plus a 20 percent buyer's premium.

Elsewhere

Logan, N.M: A tornado destroyed roughly two dozen mobile homes and campers and injured at least three people Friday as it swept through this New Mexico village, state police said. Joe Alfieri of the National Weather Service in Albuquerque said a tornado touched down shortly after 3 p.m. Forecasters said another twister touched down around 5:30 p.m. in Crossroads, about 128 miles to the south.

[Last modified March 24, 2007, 08:49:02]